Apparatus for aerial navigation.



PATENTED OCT. 1s', 190s.V

.0.E. VAN DEVENTER. APPARATUS TOEAEETAL NAVIGATION.

APPLIOATION FI'LED JULY 5.1902.

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G.-E. VAN DEVENTER. v APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION. v

APPLIQATIN FILED JULY 5,1902.

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PATENTED 00T. 13, 1903.

c. E. VAN DEVENTER. APPARATUS EOE AEEIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1902.

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- No. 741,568. i P'ATENTED 00T. I3, 1903,

o. E. VAN DEVENTER. APPARATUS EUR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1902.

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'Patented octoberle, 1903'.

OFFICE.

CHARLES E. VAN DEVENTER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS rFou AERIAL NAVIGATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,568, dated October13, 1903.

Application filed .l'nly 5, 1902. Serial No.114.4.55. (No model.) l

.T0 all whom 15m/ay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. VAN DE VENTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resid` ing at Springfield, in the county of Sangannon4 and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Aerial Navigation, of which the following is such a full,clear, and exact description as willenable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use my said invention.

My invention relates to apparatus for aerial navigation of that typewhich'employ `oscillating wings for lifting the apparatus and rotarypropellers for propelling and guiding the apparatus.

The purposes of my invention are to provide aframe of novel and improvedconstruction combining lightness with strength and rigidity, to providelifting devices of novel and improved construction, to provide simpleand effective means for operating the` lifting devices and thepropelling devices, to provide wings of novel and improved construction,to provide simple and eectiveV means forinitial spreading of thewings,to provide means to prevent undue spreading of the wings, toprovide simple and effective means for stead ying the movement of theapparatus, and to provide means to prevent jar and injury to theapparatus'during the operation of landing.

With these ends in view my invention consists of the novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, towhich reference is hereby made, and hereinafter particularly describedgitudinal section on the line l5 5 of Fig. 4..

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section on the line 6 6 ofFig. 4.. Fig. 7 is ahorizontal transverse section on the line 7 7 ofFigxl, the cranks being shown at approximately one quarter-turn from theposition shown in Fig. 1 in order to more'clearly illustrate thearrangement of the mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan of thepropellerdriving mechanism, the top of the inclosing boX being removed,so as to expose the mechanism within the boX. Fig. 9 is a verticallongitudinal section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. lO is a verticaltransverse section on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference letters designate like parts inthe several views ofthe drawings.

My apparatus may be connected with and supported on a balloon or othersuitable gasfield by any suitable means. A balloon or other gasfield andmeans for connecting therewith lifting, propelling, and steering devicesbeing well known in the art, I do not herein make any claim thereto, andit is therefore unnecessary to show and particularly describe saidgas-field and connecting The essential features of my apparatus are amainstructure provided with centrallyguided and oppositely-reciprocatingwingframes carrying wings which remain spread y sufficient to materiallycontribute to the support of the structure, and when said aeroplane ismoved downward by the operating engine or motor the aeroplane will actagainst the underlying column of air, compressing and displacing it to adegree, and thereby causing it to buoy the apparatus upward to an extentproportional to the weight of air displaced.

My invention also involves details of con-v struction whereby Iattaingreat strength and rigidity of the apparatus without undulyiucreasing its weight.

In itsy preferable form the main structure consists of fourstationarycircular frames A, suitably secured to vertical posts A and having hubsa, which are secured to a central vertical niastA2. The wing-frames Bare circular and have elongated hubs B', which are slidable on the mastA2. The hubs B of the wing-frames and the guides D are provided withball-bearings, as shown, to facilitate the movement of the hubs on themast and the movement ofthe guides on the posts A. The rims of theframes A and B are for the sake of lightness and strength made of thinsteel tubes and having substantially the elliptical cross-sectional formshown in Fig. 3, and the rim of each frame is connected with its hub byspokes Ct b of light and spring steel wire. Midway between the rim andthe hub of the frame B and concentric therewith is a circular middlebrace D, to which the spokes b' are secured. The spokes b' have theirinner ends secured to the hub B and their outer ends secured to the rimsof the framevB in such manner that the spokes and their stays form aseries of trusses supporting and strengthening the rims ofthe wing-frameand particularly adapted to prevent vertical displacement of the rims ofthe frame. (See Fig. 5.) Guides D', secured to the brace D, are slidableon the posts A and guide the reciprocating movement of the wing-frames.Cross-pieces Dzconnect the guides D. Vings B2 are mounted in pairs onthe wing-frames B. Radial partitions B3 divide the wingframes intosections, and one pair of wings is mounted in each section. Stays b2,preferably of light pianc-wire, stay the upper spokes to the hubs andalso stay the upper spokes to the lower spokes, thus stiffening andstrengthening the wingframe.

A wing-support consisting of a light metal tube or rod b3 is situatedabove and parallel to each of the spokes b' and passes through and issupported on intermedial vertical standards bs, secured on the spokes band having eyes through which the rod b3 passes. The inner ends of thewing-supports b3 screw into the hub B', and their outer ends aresupported on blocks la7, secured on top of the rim of the wing-frame B.The wings l52 are pivotally connected with the rods b3, and the rods areremovable for convenience in mounting and dismounting the wings. Thewings consist of wire skeletons covered with silk or other light andstrong fabric. (See Fig. 1.) Each wing-skeleton consists of suitablenumber of longitudinal wires or tubes b4 of sufcient strength andconnected together by transverse wires or tubes b5. At the free end ofeach of. the members b5 is an eye through which the rod b3 passes. Ineach wing there is a lateral slot b, which permits the wing to oscillatewithout striking the middle brace D. Inclined stops B on the`wing-frames B, contiguous to the outer ends of the wings B2, serve toprevent undue spreading of the ends of the wings. The edges of the wingsengage with the partitions B3 to limit the lateral spread of the wings.In order to insure the spreading of the wings at the proper moment andto make their action certain and effective, I provide means, which Iwill now describe, for effecting initial partial spreading of the wings.

A series of ngersor lugs a2 are secured to and project downwardly fromthe bracewheels A. Thelugs ft2 correspond in number with the pairs ofwings, and one lug is situated directly over each pair of wings. Thepair of transverse members b5 of the wing-skeleton contiguous to themiddle brace D (which lies directly under the brace-wheel A) haveupwardly-inclined extensions b9, which cross each other, as shown iuFigs. 5 and 6. When the wing-frames are reciprocated, as hereinafterexplained, the extensions b approach the lugs a2 as the frame movesupward, and at the instant before the frame reaches the limit of itsupward movement the extensions engage with the lugs and the lugs act onthe extensions to spread the extensions, so as to produce such initialspreading of the wings before they start downward as to insure full andcomplete spreading of the wings at the instant of the beginning of thedownward movement of the wing-frame, thus assuring effective action ofthe wings during the whole downward movement of the frame. When theframe reverses its movement and begins to again move upward, the wingsgravitate to au approximately vertical position and do not materiallyimpede the upward movement of the frame. When the frame again approachesthe limit of its upward movement, the partial spreading of the wings isagain automatically effected, as above set forth, and thus the wings arealternately expanded and collapsed so long as the operation of theapparatus continues.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the wing-framesare rapidly reciprocated the wings will aid in lifting the `apparatus.V'Vhen the apparatus has been thus lifted to the desired altitude, thereciprocating movement of the wing-frames may be suspended. Theapparatus will then descend by gravity sufliciently to cause the wingsto spread, so that the wing-frames and their spread wings will formaeroplanes, which, in conjunction with any suitable gaseld, will supportthe apparatus as it floats on or is propelled through the air.

Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the wing-frames- Ipreferably employ a suitable motor E, such as a gas-eugine or auelectric motor, secured iu a central position on the lower wheel A.Double cranks E', driven by the motor E, are connected with the guides Dby connecting-rods E2 or equivalent connecting devices, the oonstruclionand arrangement of the parts being such that as the cranks rotate theyimpart oppositely-reciprocating movement to the wing-frames-that is tosay, as one wingframe ascends the other descends. For the IOO IIO

' motor through the instrumentality of mechanism which I will nowdescribe.

There are two propellers, one onrea'ch side of the apparatus, arrangedto run independ ently at the same speed or different speeds and arrangedso that either or both may run backward or forward yand may be started,reversed, or stopped at pleasure. Both of the propellerdrivingmechanisms are exactly alike, so 'a description of one will 'suffice forboth. The driving mechanism is housed in a suitable shell or housing G',which may be'supported in any suitable manner in any convenient positionon the apparatus. Shafts G2,4 G3, and G4 are mounted to turn inbearingsg on the shell G. The propeller G is secured on the outwardly-projectingpart of the shaft G2. Wheels g', g2, and g2y are secured on the shaftG2,`and similar complemental wheels g4, g5, and Q6 are secured on theshaft G3. The Wheels g and g4 are adapted to run in frictional contactwith each other, and in like manner the wheel g2 runs in contact withthe wheel g5 and the wheel g2 runs in contact with the wheel g. I haveshown and described a train 4of friction- -wheels for operating thepropellers; but it is obvious that a similar train of cog-wheels may beused for the same purpose without departing from my invention. Groovedpulleys g7 and g8 are secured on `the shaft G3.

l ed to produce the required speed. 1" G7, fulcrumed on the shell andhavinga fork Grooved pulleys g9 and'g10 are loose on the shaft G4 whennot engaged by the clutchl mem-v ber Q12. The clutch member 942 turnswith and 'is slidable on the shaft G4 and may be shifted to the rightor-the left by means of the lever G5. On the hubs of the pulleys g2 andQ40 are clutch members (not shown) adapted to be engaged by the clutchmember g12. By sliding the member 942 tothe right it will engage'withand bring into action the pulley g4". By sliding it to the left itwill engage the pulley gg, and by leaving it midway between the pulleys,as shown in Fig. l0, both of the pnlleys will be disengaged and theshaft G4 will` run idle. Belts Q43 run on the grooved pulleys. One ofthe belts is straight and the other is crossed, as shown in Fig. 9, sothat the shaft G3 may be driven to turn forward or backward, accordingas the straight belt or the crossed belt is used. A pulley G6, fixedl onthe'motorshaft,'carries a belt gli", which ruins on the pulley 914 anddrives the shaft G ferent diameters and run in frictional contact withthe wheels g4 and g5 and gs, respectively. The wheels being of differentdiameters,'the speed ofthe propeller may be changed by sliding thewheels g', g2, and g3 to the right or left on the shaft G2, so as tocause circumferential contact of the pair of wheels adapt- A leverttingin a circumferential groove in the hub Thewheels g', g2, and g2 areall of dif-V of the wheels', serves to shift' the friction- `wheels tothe right or ithe left, as occasion.

maj/:require A sail H is detachably connected with lthe mast A2 in avertical position parallel tothe mast and transversely perpendiculartothe axis of the propellers. The sail I-I serves to steady the motion ofthe apparatus in .the same manner that the keel of a ship steadies themotion of the vessel. When it is desired to travel with the Wind, thepropellers may be operated to turn the apparatus so as to pre-` sent thesail broadside to the wind. In like manner the apparatus may be turnedto present the edge ofthe sail to the wind or to hold the sail at anydesired angle to the-wind as may be found expedient in navigatingthekapparatus.

As a means to prevent injury to the apparatus by striking xed objects orthe ground while descending or landing I provide at the lower ends ofthe posts A inflated elastic balls J, which when they strike any fixedobject will yield and break the shock, :so asto prevent injury to theapparatus.

The diameter of the brace-wheels A is preferably one-half of thediameter of the wingframes B, and the middle braces D of the Wing-framesare of the same diameter as the brace-Wheels and carry the guides D',which slide on the posts A.

4By employing this construction and arrangement of the parts I amenabled to give intermediate support to the Wing-frames, and also toprevent rotary movement of the Wingframes on the mast A2, and also toguide and IOO steady the reciprocating movement of-the'- Wingframes.These features are of great practical advantage in employing circularwing-frames, for the reason that wing-frames of that form permit the useof' wings radiating from a common center and supported at'both ends insuch manner as to distribute the stresses equallyvover the whole frameand for'the further reason that the rims of the wing-frames bindtogether all the parts'of the frame in such manner that such twisting ofthe frame as might cause binding of the wings is practically impossible.Anotherv p-ractical 'advantage of the circular wing-r frames isthat inturning the apparatus,'so as to give the sail any desired direction withrespect to the wind, theypresent relativelyV `of retarding the rotationof the-apparatus in the air. The circumferential surface of the'wing-frames may be compared to the circumferential surface of arevoluble shaft, the air being the support or medium in which the shaftturns. When. the apparatus is headed against the wind, theradially-disposed wings receive air-pressure alike on both sides of thedirectional line of travel of the apparatus f and centraline theair-pressures, so that they greatest strains are directed against andborne by the strongest parts-viz., the middle braces D, the mast A2, andthe posts A.

I am aware that oppositely-reciprocating Wing-frames have long beenused. I therefore do not broadly claim that feature.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a circularwing-frame, radiating partitions dividing said wing-frame into sections,inclined stops at the outer ends of said sections and Wings mounted insaid sections and engaging With said partitions and stops to limit thespread ofsaid Wings as set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainstructure, Wingframes, means for reciprocating said Wingfraines, wingsmounted on said Wing-frames and means for initial spreading of saidWings, as set forth.

8. A Wing-frame for apparatus of the class described, consisting of acentral hub, circular rims, spokes radial to said hub, re1novablewing-supports above and parallel to said spokes and radial partitionsbetween said spokes; in combination with wings mounted on saidwing-supports, as set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of vertical.posts, brace- Wheels secured to and connecting said posts, guidesslidable on said posts, circular wingfrarnes to which said guides aresecured, radially-disposed Wings mounted on said Wingfrarnes,cross-pieces connecting said guides, a motor mounted on one of saidbrace-Wheels, double-crank shafts driven by said motor, andconnecting-rods connecting the cranks of said crank-shaft with saidguides respectively as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, at Springfield,Illinois, this 30th day of June, 1902.

CHARLES E. VAN DEVENTER.

IVitncsses:

MAY F. RYAN, JULIA TARRENT.

